PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 203 
but his identification was probably incorrect, as the species is 
restricted to the base of the Himalayas, Lower Bengal, and 
parts of Assam. 
It is slightly larger than L. mahrattensis, which it somewhat 
resembles in build, but has no crest. It may be distinguished 
by the uniform black of the hind-neck, upper back, and upper 
tail coverts, and by the bright crimson of the vent and 
lower tail coverts. The top of the head is crimson in males 
and black in females. 
Length 7°5; wing 4°3. 
Iynerrrous GYMNOPHTHALMUS (Blanford, Vol. II1., p. 48; 
Legge, p. 186). 
The Ceylon Pigmy Woodpecker. 
Description—Male: The top of the head, the centre of 
the nape, and the hind-neck very dark brown ; a broad white 
stripe runs from behind the eye to the nape, and is bordered 
above by a streak of vermilion. Remainder of upper plumage 
dark brownish-black ; the back is barred, and the wing quills, 
wing coverts, and tail are spotted with white. The cheeks, 
ear coverts, and sides of the neck are brown. Under plumage 
dirty white, faintly streaked with brown in young birds; under 
tail coverts streaked with brown. 
Females lack the vermilion stripe over the eyebrow. 
Bill olive-brown, paler underneath ; iris white, at times 
tinged with gray, yellow, or red ; legs and feet greenish. 
Length 4°8; wing 3; tail 1°25; tarsus -58; bill from 
gape °62. 
Distribution —F¥ound nearly all over the low-country, 
except in the extreme north, and in the hills up to about 
3,000 feet, occasionally higher. In India it occurs on the 
Malabar Coast. 
Habits, &:c.—This, the smallest of our Woodpeckers, 
frequents the top branches of trees. Its presence is generally 
betrayed by its note, a shrill long trill. It makes its nest hole 
in small dead branches, laying probably three white eggs, 
which measure about °62 by *53. 
